David Murray formed this quartet several years ago after he decided that he needed a fuller group with a piano to fulfil his compositional aims, one that was powerful enough rhythmically to inspire him to play something new, something fresh. Murray is always great at bringing out the best in his musicians, the music he writes so cohesive that, in drummer Russell Carter’s words, “it almost plays itself”.
This new set was recorded at the end of a successful European tour and reflects this group’s camaraderie and its dedication to exploring every depth and nuance of each composition.
Throughout, Murray’s endless creativity and his ability to seamlessly blend diverse musical styles are on display. The title track is a waltz-time portrait of his much-loved partner, Murray’s evocative, almost verbal tenor expressing a wide range of emotions. In contrast, Ninno is a breezy, repetitive piece with a strong sense of carnival, with Murray in ebullient form, Shenzhen a ballad showcase for Murray’s growling bass clarinet set against bassist Luke Stewart’s powerful bass accompaniment and then pianist Marta Sanchez’s choppy, fragmented solo.
Murray’s breathy, timeless bass clarinet gets another outing on Richard’s Tune – a Don Pullen piece from the 1970s written in homage to the AACM founder Muhal Richard Abrams – that is suitably innovative, with Murray at his most personal and distinctive. Add in the brash tenor workout in 5/4 time on Am Gone Get Some, and the closing Cycles And Seasons, which moves from a jaunty 7/4 to a swaggering 5/4, and you get a fine celebration of adventure and change. Sanchez stands out for her expressive solo on Ninno and other eruptive solo contributions, bassist Stewart for his sense of swing and propulsive fingering, drummer Carter for his precision and power: a “drummer’s drummer”, as Murray calls him.
David Murray must have recorded well over 100 albums by now, and he is still going strong. This is another captivating set to add to that long list.
Discography
Francesca; Ninno; Shenzhen; Come And Go; Am Gone Get Some; Richard’s Tune; Free Mingus; Cycles And Seasons (63.07)
Murray (ts, bcl); Marta Sanchez (p); Luke Stewart (b); Russell Carter (d). Winterthur, Switzerland, 26–27 November 2023.
Intakt CD 422
